Monthly Archives: September 2014

We’re showered with information from the minute we open our eyes in the morning until we go to bed at night. And it’s not a gentle, “isn’t that refreshing?” sprinkle; it’s a roaring, relentless Niagara Falls-esque barrage of tweets and text messages and ads and emails and Facebook notifications and Ello invites. This sort of constant, high-volume stream of media and information has consequences for our health, well-being, and social skills… and they’re not all good.

When asked what my favorite things about living in Atlanta are, October and March are always high on my list because Atlanta knows how to rock the heck out of fall and spring. They’re our reward for July and August. The good news is that tomorrow is October, and there are tons of “get outside” ways for our families to squeeze every ounce of crunchy-leafed awesomeness out of our great city. Sit down with the family and make a Fall Bucket List of some healthy, positive things you want to do together. Here are some ideas to get the pumpkin rolling…

Most frequently lauded for its sliders, small plates, and brunch offerings (RIP, bottomless mimosas, you’ll be missed), The Shed at Glenwood has much more to offer than that. The popular Glenwood Park eatery focuses on sustainability — using organic, local produce for their farm-to-table concept. Owners Cindy Shera and Todd Martin opened the restaurant with Executive Chef Todd Richards in 2008 to offer a homey atmosphere where people could enjoy either a casual or fine dining experience without the intimidation factor. “People shouldn’t have to be intimidated by a restaurant or by food or by wine,” says Shera. To that end, The Shed offers bi-monthly wine classes (next one November 22) without the pretentiousness and a wide range of menu offerings that range from duck confit to shrimp and grits. WellATL asked Executive Chef Todd Richards to reveal the healthiest, tastiest options on his menu.

Atlanta is chock full o’ amazing health and wellness events. Every Monday, WellATL will bring you a handy-dandy list of the week’s finest options. If you’d like to submit something fun and fitness-y for consideration, shoot an email to events@wellatl.com. And now, behold, seven days of awesome…

This week’s Workout of the Week (WoW) is brought to you by the Atlanta BeltLine. As always, you can do this WoW on your own or with friends, but this week, there’s an even better option: Meet at Stanton Park (1052 Martin Street SE) on Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. to do the WoW with other members of the WellATL community and a certified trainer. Get a great workout, hang out in a beautiful BeltLine park, and meet awesome new people — all for FREE! No matter how/where you decide to do this week’s workout, remember to record your score in our workout tracking software, Logsitall (sign up here for free), so that you can set goals and track your fitness level as it improves.

It can be tough to find makeup without potentially toxic chemicals, squashed bug dyes, and other gross ingredients — not to mention the cruel animal testing and wasteful packaging involved. The infographic geniuses over at Fix.com have created a DIY guide to creating your own cosmetics and even deodorant using things you’ve probably got in your kitchen right now. Remember, these recipes are for putting on your face, not for eating. These homemade options are good for your skin, the environment, and animals.Become a mad scientist of beauty. >>

Do you like healthy competition with coworkers? Riding your bike? Fabulous prizes? If you said yes to any of those, the Atlanta Bike Challenge is for you. And let’s face it, there’s never been a better time to take up biking in Atlanta. In the past, riding in the city seemed about as risky as slathering yourself in chum and diving into shark-infested waters — and just about as appealing. But things are changing. The city’s bike infrastructure is growing fast and bike safety along with it. Over the next three years, Atlanta will add 120 miles of bike lanes, multi-use trails, and cycle tracks. That growth is thanks, in part, to PeopleForBikes Green Lane Project, which helps selected cities to install and pay for protected bike lanes, but let’s not underestimate the importance of the BeltLine’s trails, the PATH Foundation’s ever-expanding reach, and an upcoming bike-share program with 500 bikes. Statistically, more cyclists means a higher awareness of bikes on the road, which ultimately leads to a reduction in accidents. The Atlanta Bike Challenge wants to prove how fun and safe biking can be by asking you to ride just 10 minutes a day.